Slough

Slough's population expanded between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure, religion and family life.

The population passed 140,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Slough increased by 18%, from about 119,000 to 140,000.

The addition of just over 21,000 people means this area's population was the second-fastest-growing in the South East and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Slough was home to, on average, 31 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it the South East's third-most densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Slough

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Slough decreased by one year, from 33 to 32 years.

This urban area had the third-lowest average age in the South East and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 6,200 children under the age of nine years, while the population between 70 and 79 years decreased by just over 600.

About 16% of people in Slough are aged under nine years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Slough by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in home ownership

This area saw England's largest fall in the proportion of households that owner their home.

In 2011, just over one in two (53%) households in Slough owner their home, compared with 66% in 2001. The percentage of privately rented homes increased from 11% to 24%.

Brent saw the next largest fall (from 55% to 43%).

The rate of home ownership in Slough decreased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of households in Slough, the South East and England that owner their home, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Slough

The number of people in Slough that described themselves as Muslim increased from about 16,000 in 2001 to just under 33,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 13% to 23% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 1.2% to 2.2%) and the average across England (from 3.2% to 5.2%).

The number of people in Slough that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 64,000 in 2001 to about 58,000 in 2011 (from 54% to 41%). The number of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 13,000 to about 17,000 (from 11% to 12%).

About 15,000 people (9.1%) said they were Sikh, up from about 11,000 in 2001 (11%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Muslim in Slough increased by 9.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Slough by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Families in Slough

This area saw England's third-largest fall in the proportion of households without children.

In 2011, just over one in two (51%) households in Slough had no children, compared with 56% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child increased from 34% to 39%.

The largest decrease occurred in Barking and Dagenham (from 55% to 48%) followed by Redbridge (from 56% to 50%).

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that without children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Slough

The number of people in Slough from the White ethnic groups increased from about 76,000 in 2001 to just over 64,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 64% to 46% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Slough from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 34,000 in 2001 to about 56,000 in 2011 (from 28% to 40%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from about 6,000 to just over 12,000 (from 5.1% to 8.6%).

Just under 4,800 people (2.3%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from just under 2,800 in 2001 (3.4%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Slough decreased by 18 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Slough by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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